As I walked past our living room last Saturday afternoon, I noticed Shaddow, our large, long-haired tuxedo cat staring intently at something on the floor next to the carpet. My first thought was, “I don’t have any hair ties that long.” My second thought was, “Uh-oh,” and for good reason. It was a juvenile eastern ratsnake about 14 inches long. It gave one small movement, then lay still. Shaddow had already jumped to our defense and slain the dragon.

I calmly informed Jim, who, armed with a paper towel and a bag, deposited the small creature at the edge of the marsh, where some other resident could enjoy a tasty dinner. Such are the ways of nature.

When I posted my report and a photo of our uninvited guest on Facebook, I quickly received dozens of statements of “I would sell the house,” and I understand. Our fear of and repulsion by snakes seems inborn.

We often don’t appreciate our native snakes as gardeners’ and farmers’ helpers. Most of us have some erroneous ideas about sn...